Deep well pumping means and inlet member therefor



May 25,1937.- c. .1. COBERLY v DEEP WELL PUMPING MEANS AND INLET MEMBERTHEREFOR Filed March 5, 1955 INVENTOR CLARENCE a. CQaERLY Patented M i25. 1937 min? WELL PUMPING MEANS AND INLET t MEMBER 'runasron a aClarence J. Coberly, Los Angeles, Calif asslgnor to RoKo Corporation,Reno, Nev a corporation of Nevada ApplicationMarch 5, 1935; Serial No.9,413

13 Claims. (onus-4 My invention relates to equipment especiallyuseful inthe pumping of oil from deep'wells.

For many years the practice of pumping oil wells employed chiefly whatis known as the sucker rod type of pump, such pump having a pump pistondisposed in a pump barrel at the lower end of the well, and a string ofsucker rods extending upwardly to a suitable reciprocating or actuatingmeans disposed above theupper end of the well. Pumps of this characterwere found satisfactory for shallow wells, but with the in- *crease inthe depth of Wells many difficulties and disadvantages have arisen,among which are loss of power due to elongation and contraction of thestringof sucker rods and losses-due to breakage of the suckerrods. As asolution for the prob .lem in general I have produced a deep well pump,

. and having ahigh pressure fluid delivery pipe extending downwardlythereto'fromga suitable.

shows thatit is capable of long periods of usef as. disclosed in mycopending application, Serial No. 720,061, filed April 11, 1934,entitled Fluid' operated deep well pump, having a pump unit comprising apump proper and a fluid operated motor therefor, adapted to beplacedin'the oil producingzone at or near-the bottom of a well sourceoffluid under pressure at the'lftopof the .well. Actual use of this pumpin the oil fields without replacement. Also, itis found that the pumpmaybe operated at relatively highspeeds; for example, two hundred tothree hundred strokes per minute as compared withthe fifty to onehundred strokes customary in sucker rod pumps. Some of the structureofthe present application is disclosed in my copending applicatiori,Serial No. 740,452, filed August 18,1934, entitled Method andapparatus'for ins alling pumps in wells? patented October 6, 193o',No. 2,056,418.;i

It is an object of my invention to provide for a pump of. the characterdescribed above a means for reducing to a'minimum the tendency for thepump to cause emulsification, and for reducing to a minimum lossesoccurring due to the formation. of gaspockets in or gas locking of thepump. It is accordingly. an object of my invention to .gprovide apumping device having an oil inlet means of such character that the oilwill be delivered to the pump under such static pressure that the gascontent of the oilvwill be held in solutiomso that during the operationof the pump the fluid drawn into the pumping cylinder thereof willconsist of a liquid and not a com bination of liquid and free gas. I

It is an object of my invention to provide a pump adaptedto be loweredthrough a tube to the lower end of a well, this tube having an externalshell around the outer part thereof for conducting oil downwardly tothe-pump inlet. This shell extends upwardly around the lower end of thetube to a height materially above the position of the pump so that theoil must travel downwardly through a relatively long distance before itreaches the pump inlet.

It i'u an object of the invention to provide a simple and effectivecombination of parts forming the oil inlet member of the pumping device,and anadditional object of the invention is to provide an inlet memberof the above character which will serve not only as a gas anchor butalso asa sand trap for the small quantities of sand permitted to enterthrough the screen forming the upper part of the inlet member, and whichmay be raised to the surface of the ground with the tubing for thepurpose of cleaning.

Furtherobjects and advantages of the invention will be made evidentthroughout the following part .of the specification. l

Referring to the drawing, which is for illustrative p urposes only,

Fig. lwisfa schematic sectional view showing the upper portion ofapreferred embodiment of my invention in use in a well. r i

Fig. 1b is a reduced schematic sectional view of the lower portion ofthe embodiment shown in Fig. la. v 1 V Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectionalview of the inlet member shown in Fig. 11).

Fig. 3 is a cross section on a plane represented by the line 3--3 ofFig. 2. l r

Fig. 4 is a' sectional view similar in character to Fig. 2, showing analternative method of construction" for the inlet member.

In Figs. Ia and 1b Ishow acasing ll extending downwardly in a well to anoil production zone. By means. of a suitable 'casing head l2 an oil tube"13 is suspended in the well. At the lower end of the tube IS an inletmember I4 is secured, this inlet member being connected to the piping l5of which the oil tube: I3 is formed by means of an internally threadedsleeve 16. In the internal threads I! formed in the lower end of thesleeve 16 a tube member I8 is secured, and at the lower-end of the tube18 a pump receptacle IQ of tubular form is placed. This pump receptacleI! may be adownward continuation of the tube l8 or may consist of aseparate tube secured to the tube 18 by means-of acoupling 2|. At thelower end of the receptacle IS a valve body 22 is placed, this valvebody being preferably threaded into the lower end of the pump receptacleI!) as shown at 23. The valve body 22 has a chamber 24 in the lower partthereof which is connected to the interior of the pump receptacle by avertical passage 25, the upper end of which is fiared to form a seat 28.A lateral opening 21 in the wall of the body 22 connects the chamber 24with the exterior of the valve body 22. In the lateral opening 21 a.valve seat 28 is placed which is adapted to be engaged by a closuremember consisting preferably of a metal ball 23 disposed in the chamber24. Connected to the coupling l6 by means of external threads 3| thereonis a shell 32 which extends downwardly around the pump receptacle l9 andextends a distance below the valve body 22 so as to form a sand trap 33which may be closed by a plug 34 threaded into the lower end of theouter shell 32. The shell 32 may be ordinarily forty to fifty feet inlength, and the lower end of the pump receptacle [9 may be disposed afew feet above the plug 34 so that the pump receptacle l9 actually issuspended in the lower end of the outer shell 32 and is spaced from theplug 34 only a sufllcient distance to leave the space 33, the size ofwhich may be varied to suit conditions. The upper portion of the shell32 is provided with slots 35 so as to form a screen or strainer 35 forpermitting the entrance of oil into the upper end of the space 31between the shell 32 and the pipe l3 and pump receptacle IS.

The head l2 shown in Fig. 1a has a sealing means 38 of expansiblecharacter mounted at the upper end thereof. This sealing means is heldin place by a threaded member 39 tapered so as to receive slips 4| forholding a string of high pressure tubing 42 which is extended downwardlythrough the oil tube l3 into the piping i8, and has a fluid operatedpump 43 secured to its lower end so as to rest within the pumpreceptacle I8 'and engage the tapered seat 26. Adjacent the head i2 ahigh pressure pump 44 is placed, this pump being adapted for drawingclean fluid such, for example, as filtered oil from a clean fluidstorage chamber 45 of a filtering device 46 and for pumping this cleanfluid through piping 41 into theiupper end of the high pressure tubing42 through which the fiuid under pressure is conducted to the fluidoperated pump 43 which may be constructed as disclosed in my copendlngapplication Serial No. 720,061, hereinbefore referred to. The operationof the pump 43 draws oil through the inlet opening 21, the passage 25,and the inlet passage 43 of the pump, such oil being discharged throughopenings 43 into the pump receptacle i 9 through which it is deliveredto the production tube l3 which carries it to discharge piping 49aconnecting-with the filter device 46.

The distance from the inlet opening 21 to the oil inlet slots 35 at theupper end of the shell 32 is such that a definite static head of oil isplaced on the oil in the lower part of the shell 32 which is drawn intothe pump 43 through the inlet opening 21. The openings 35 are disposednear the upper level of the oil in the well. The oil entering the wellfrom the formation, in order to pass into the shell 32, must move intofairly close proximity to the upper level of the oil in the well.Accordingly, free gases in such oil may be released from the oil intothe casing I I. Fine bubbles of gas of soluble character may be carriedinto the shell 32 with the oil, but as the oil passes downwardly throughthe space 31, a pressure is exerted due to the static head of the oil sothat when the oil enters the pump 43,

these small bubbles of gas will be re-absorbed into the oil, and gaslocking of the pump will not occur.

In Fig. 4 I show an alternative form of inlet member 50 for theproduction tube I3, such inlet member 50 consisting of a collar which isthreaded onto the lower end of the tube l3 and has internal threads 52in the lower end thereof for holding the inner tubular memberrepresented by the pipe l8 and the pump receptacle l3 carrying a valvebody 220, at the lower end thereof. Instead of the collar 5| beingexternally threaded, as is the collar l6 at 3i, a shoulder 53 isprovided against which a shouldered ring 54 may rest. The upper end ofan outer shell 32a engages this ring 54 and is centralized thereby, theupper end of the shell 32a being thus positioned without the use ofthreads. A plug 55 engages the lower end 56 of the shell 32a and isshouldered at 51 so as to make a tight seal with and to centralize thelower end 58 of the shell 32a. Through the plug 55 a bolt 58 extendsinto threaded engagement at 59 with the lower end of the valve body 22a.A nut 6| is threaded onto the lower end of the bolt 58 and is tightenedup-so as to force the plug 55 upwardly against the lower end 55 of theshell 32a and in turn cause the upper end of the shell to force the ring54 tightly against the shoulder at the lower end of the collar 5|. Inthis form of inlet member the shell may be placed and removed with ease.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in simple andpractical form, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereofare representative of other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may beused in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially thesame results; therefore, it is to be understood that the invention isnot to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accordedthe full scope of the following claims. I

I claim as my invention:

1. A deep well pumping device of the character described, including: anoil tube adapted to be extended down into a well to the oil producingzone thereof for carrying the oil to the surface of the ground; an outershell extending downwardly from the lower end of said tube, said shellhaving an oil inlet opening in the upper end thereof; a pump receptaclein the lower part of said shell; tubular means connecting the upper endof said pump receptacle to the oil tube;

pumping means, comprising a pump barrel with a pumping piston in saidpump barrel and means for reciprocating said pumping piston, adapted tobe lowered through said oil tube into said pump receptacle; meansforming a seal between the exterior of said pumping means and saidreceptacle; and inlet means at the lower end of said receptacleconnecting the inlet of said pumping means with the space within thelower part of said shell.

2. A deep well pumping device of the character described, including: anoil tube adapted to be extended down into a well to the oil producingzone thereof for carrying the oil to the surface of the ground; an outershell extending downwardly from the lower end of said tube, said shellhaving an oil inlet opening in the upper end thereof; a pump receptaclesuspended from the lower end of said oil tube within said shell, thelower end of said pump receptacle being spaced from the lower end ofsaid shell so as to provide a space in the lower end of said shell belowthe lower end of said receptacler pump ing means, comprising a pumpbarrel with a ceptac1e;'and inlet means at the lower endof saidreceptacleconnecting the inlet of said pumping means with the spacewithin the lower part of said shell.

3. A deep well pumping device of {the char'ac ter described, including:an oil tube adapted to ing zone thereof for carrying the oil to thesurface of the ground; an outer shell extending downwardly from thelower end of said tube,"

be extended down into a well to theoil producsaid shellhaving anoilinlet opening in the upper end thereof; a pump receptacle suspended fromthe lower endof said oiltubewithin said shell;

a pumping means, comprising a pump barrel with a pumping piston in saidpump barrel and means for reciprocating said pumping piston, adapted tobe lowered throughsaid oil tube into said pump receptacle; meansforming'a seal between theexterior of said pumping means and said re-lceptacle; and'inlet means at the lower endfof said receptacle connectingtheinlet of said pumping means, withthe space within the lower part ofsaid shell; e} 1 I a v 4. A deep well pumping deviceof the characterdescribed, including: anoil tubeadapted to be extended downinto a wellto the oil producing zone thereof for carrying the oil to thelsurface ofthe ground; an outer'shell suspended from j the lower end ofsaid tube,said shell having an oil inlet opening in the upper end thereof; pipiextending downwardly within said shell; a pump receptacle connected to'the lower end of said,

piping within said shell; pumping means, comprising a pump barrel with apumping piston in said pump barrel and meansfor reciprocating saidpumping piston, adapted to be lowered through said oil tube into saidpump receptacle;

means forming a seal between the exterior of 3 said pumping means andsaid receptacle; and

inlet means at the lower end of said receptacle connecting the inletfofsaid pumping means with the space within the'lower part of said shell.

5. In well pumping means having a pump adapted to be lowered into a welland means for operating said pump, the combination of: a tube of suchsize thatsaid pump may pass therethrough extending down intothe well tothe production zone thereof for carrying the oil to the surface of theground; an outer shell having its upper end connected to thelower end ofsaid tube, said shell having the lower end thereof closed and the upperend thereof with a fluid inlet opening; a pump receptacle suspendedwithin said shell from a point abovesaid fluid inlet opening so that thespace between said pump receptacle and said shell will communicate withsaid inlet opening; means for supporting said pump within said pumpreceptacle; a seal for sealing between said pump and said pumpreceptacle;

and an inlet member at the lower end of said pump receptacle having aninlet passage connecting the inlet of said pump with the space inthrough extending down into the well to the production zone thereof forcarrying the oil to the surface of the ground; an annular fittingconnected to the lower end of said tube, said fitting having an internalthread and an external thread at the lower endthereof; an outer shellhavin gits upper end connected tosaid external thread of said fitting,saidshellhaving the lower end thereof closed and the upper end thereofwith a fluid inlet opening; a pump receptacle suspended from saidinternal thread within said shell; a seal for sealing between said pumpand said pump receptacle; 'and an inlet member at the lower end of saidpump receptacle having an inlet passage connecting the inlet of saidpump with the space in said shell around said pump receptacle. f p

7. In well pumping meanshaving a pump adapted to be lowered into a'welland means for operating said pump, the combination of: a tube of suchsize that saidpump maypasstherethrough extending down into the welltothe production zone thereof for carrying the oil to the surface oftheground; an outer shell having its up-, per end connected to the lowerend of said tube, said shell having the. lower end thereof closed andthe upper end thereof with a fluid inlet opening; a pump receptaclesuspended within said shell from a point, above said fluid inlet openingso that the space between said pumpre ceptacle and said shell will"communicate with said inlet opening; means forsupporting said pumpwithin said pump receptacle; a seal for sealing between said pump andsaid pump receptacle; and an inlet check valve at the lower end of saidpump receptacle having an inlet passage connecting the inlet of saidpump with the space in said shell around said pump receptacle.

' 8. In well pumping means having a pump adapted to be lowered into awell and means for operating said pump, the combination of a tube ofsuch size thatsaid pump may pass therethrough extending downinto thewell to the pro-' duction zone thereof for carrying the oil to thesurfacejof the ground; an annular fitting connected tothe lower end'ofsaid tube, said fitting having an internal thread and an external threadat the lower endthereof; an outer shell having its upper end connectedto said external thread of said fitting, said shell having the lower endthereof closed and the upper end thereof with a fluid inlet opening;apump receptacle suspendedfrom said internal thread within said shell; aseal for sealing between said pump and said pump receptacle; and aninlet check valve at the lower end of said pump receptacle having aninlet passage/connecting the inlet of said pump with the space in saidshell around said pump receptacle.

' 9. In a well pumping means having a pump adapted to be lowered into awell and means for operating said pump, the combination of: a tube ofsuch size that said pump may pass there through extending down into thewell to the production zone thereof for carrying the oil to i forclosingthe lower end of said shell; means connecting the lower end of said pumpreceptacle to said shell'angforcing said shell upwardly against saidcollar; :1. seal for sealing between said pump and said pump receptacle;and an inlet member at the lower end of said pump receptacle having aninlet passage connecting the inlet'of said pump with the space in saidshell around said pump receptacle.

10. In well pumping means having a pump adapted to be lowered into awell and means for operating said pump, the combination of: a tube ofsuch size that said ,pump may pass therethrough extending down into thewell to the production zone thereof for carrying the oil to the surfaceof the ground; a pump receptacle extending downwardly from said tube,the upper end of said pump receptacle being connecting to said tube soas to be suspended therefrom; means forming a collar at the lower end ofsaid tube, said collar being of larger diameter than said pumpreceptacle; an outer shell around said pump receptacle, the upper end ofsaid shell engaging said collar, and said shell having an openingtherein through which fluid may enter the shell; means for closing thelower end of said shell; means connecting the lower end of said pumpreceptacle to said shell and forcing said shell upwardly against saidcollar; a seal for sealing between said pump and said pump receptacle;and an inlet check valve at the lower end of said pump receptacle havingan inlet passage connecting the inlet of said pump with the space insaid shell around said pump receptacle.

11. In well pumping means having a pump adapted to be lowered into awell and means for operating said pump, the combination of: a tube ofsuch size that said pump may pass therethrough extending down into thewell to the production zone thereof for carrying the oilto the surfaceof the ground; a pump receptacle extending being of larger diameter thansaid pump receptacle; an outer shell around said pump recep tacle, theupper end of said shell engaging said collar, and said shell having anopening therein through which fluid may enter the shell; means forclosing the lower end of said shell; means connecting the lower end ofsaid pump receptacle to said shell and forcing said shell upwardlyagainst said collar; a tapered seat in the lower end of said pumpreceptacle in which said pump may rest, said seat forming aseal betweensaid pump and said pump receptacle; and an inlet member at the lower endof said pump receptacle having an inlet passage connecting the inlet ofsaid pump with the space in said shell around said pump receptacle.

12. A deep well pumping device of the character described, including: anoil tube adapted to be extended down into a well to the oil producingzone thereof for carrying oil to the surface'of the ground; an outershell extending downwardly from the lower end of said oil tube, saidshell having an oil inlet in the upper end thereof; a pump receptacle inthe lower part of said shell; means connecting said pump receptacle tosaid oil tube; pumping means comprising a pump barrel with a pumpingpiston in. said pump barrel and means for reciprocating said pumpingpiston, said pumping means being adapted to be lowered through said oiltube into said pump receptacle; inlet means in said receptacle andpositioned below said oil inlet, connecting the inlet of said pumpingmeans with the space within the lower part of said shell; and,

means associated with said receptacle for securing said shell relativethereto.

13. A deep well pumping device of the character described, including: anoil tube adapted to be extended down into a well to the oil producingzone thereof for carrying oil to the surface of the ground; an outershell extending downwardly from the lower end of said oil tube, saidshell making a slip joint with said oil tube, said shell having an oilinlet in the upper end thereof; a pump receptacle in the lower part ofsaid shell; means connecting said pump receptacle to said oil tube;pumping means comprising a pump barrel with a pumping piston in saidpump barrel and means for reciprocating said pumping piston, saidpumping means being adapted to be lowered through said oil tube intosaid pump receptacle; inlet means in said receptacle and positionedbelow said oil inlet, con

necting the inlet of said pumping means with the space within the lowerpart of said shell; and means associated with said receptacle forsecuring said shell,relative to said oil tube.

' CLARENCE J. COBERLY.

